Places And Travel
Why Some Counties Have No Government At All
Not every U.S. state relies on traditional county government. See how three states divide local power and provide essential public services differently.
9 Most Walkable Town Centers In Germany
9 Most Walkable Town Centers In Germany pack medieval walls, market squares, and half-timbered lanes into compact centers made for exploring on foot.
The Forests Where The Trees All Lean The Same Way
The Forests Where The Trees All Lean The Same Way turn toppled trunks into records of blasts, storms, and slow-moving ground across eight national forests.
10 Best Natural Wonders To Visit In Switzerland This Year
10 Best Natural Wonders To Visit In Switzerland This Year span the Matterhorn, the Aletsch Glacier, Rhine Falls, and the waterfalls of Lauterbrunnen Valley.
What Happens When A National Park Runs Out Of Water
Aging pipes and deeper droughts are draining the parks. Here is the careful, staged response that keeps them open when the water starts to run low.
5 Best Lakeside Towns in South Australia
South Australia's lakeside towns swap surf for still water. Paddle Lake Bonney, walk the Blue Lake crater rim, and watch waterbirds on Lake Albert.
The National Parks With The Most Bird Species
Head out to one of these six national parks with the most bird species, with a bonus detour to Point Reyes National Seashore.
Why Bristlecone Pines Only Grow Where Nothing Else Will
The oldest trees on Earth grow on white rock with almost no phosphorus. Why bristlecone pines only grow where nothing else will, and what it costs them.
Why Yellowstone Has No Grizzly-Free Zones Left
Why Yellowstone Has No Grizzly-Free Zones Left is a recovery story, though low densities across millions of acres mean most visitors still never see one.
2026's 11 Best Small Towns To Visit on the Pacific Coast
Cape Flattery to Carmel-by-the-Sea, these 11 small towns are the best stops on the Pacific Coast in 2026 for beaches, seafood, lighthouses, and sea stacks.
The Cheapest Beautiful Towns To Live In Utah
Discover the most affordable places to live in Utah, where below-average home prices, strong local economies, and aesthetic scenery go hand in hand.
9 Idyllic Small Towns In Alaska To Visit In 2026
From Sitka to Cordova, tour 9 small Alaska towns rich in Indigenous heritage, gold-rush history, glaciers, and coastal wildlife.
The National Forests With The Best Hot Springs
Discover natural hot springs across seven U.S. national forests, from Idaho's Goldbug to Wyoming's beautiful Granite Hot Springs.
9 Great Road Trips to Take in California
Climb to a 9,945-foot pass, then stand below sea level in a day. Nine California road trips worth taking for the drive, from Big Sur to Death Valley.
9 Best Attractions To Visit In The Adirondack Mountains
The Adirondacks pack Olympic history, roaring gorges, old forts, and mountain scenery into a variety of attractions that hide across six million acres.
11 United States Towns Perfect For A Fresh Start
Picture the Saturday first: 11 US towns where trails, rivers, and arts districts sit close to home, with home prices that leave room to breathe.
11 Ideal Rockies Destinations for a 3-Day Weekend in 2026
Skip the resort-town crowds and prices: 11 small Rockies towns with steam trains, sapphire gravel, dark skies, and glacial lakes for a 3-day weekend.
The Most Expensive National Park To Visit
The Most Expensive National Park To Visit is Gates of the Arctic in Alaska, where a free entrance hides the real cost of chartered planes and guides.
5 Most Rattlesnake Infested Areas on the Chesapeake Bay
5 Most Rattlesnake Infested Areas in Chesapeake Bay include Shenandoah, Catoctin, and Green Ridge, where timber rattlesnakes den on rocky slopes.
Where Is The Oldest Lighthouse In America
Boston Light came first in 1716, but the British blew it up. America's oldest surviving lighthouse is Sandy Hook, New Jersey, lit in 1764 and never rebuilt.
The Oldest Concert Venues Still Operating In America
The oldest concert venues still operating in America, ordered by opening year, starting with Philadelphia's 1857 opera house.
11 Most Idyllic Small Towns on the Gulf Coast
Beyond the beloved cities of New Orleans, Tampa, and Galveston lie smaller Gulf Coast towns, that are just as vibrant but where every face is familiar.
9 Ideal Pennsylvania Destinations for a 3-Day Weekend in 2026
Nine ideal Pennsylvania destinations for a 3-day weekend in 2026, with gorge rail rides, waterfalls, battlefield tours, and gas-lit main streets.
The State Parks Built By The Civilian Conservation Corps
Pack your bags and get ready for a walk through history and nature with these six most prominent corps developed state parks in America.
8 Best Nebraska Towns For Retirees
Nebraska's small towns are quiet and intimate communities perfect for a retirement surrounded by beauty with a slower pace of life.
This Is The Most Welcoming Town In New York
Sausage suppers, a century-old festival, and a downtown people actually gather in: meet the small New York city that makes belonging feel easy.
The Last American Chestnuts Left Standing
Four billion American chestnuts died in forty years. A few mature trees survive, mostly in Wisconsin, and the fight to bring the species back just got messy.
The Best Small Towns In Illinois For Live Music
Catch a show without the drive to Chicago: 12 small Illinois towns where live music comes with a historic theater, a river view, or a state park nearby.
9 Off-The-Beaten-Path Towns In Oklahoma
Discover 9 off-the-beaten-path towns in Oklahoma, from Medicine Park's cobblestones to Guthrie's Victorian streets, full of history and small-town charm.
10 of the Most Unique Towns in Massachusetts
Massachusetts is full of towns unlike anywhere else. Explore 10 of the most unique, where quirky history, art, and coastline set each one apart.
8 Most Breathtaking Towns In Kentucky
Eight of the most beautiful small towns in Kentucky, where sandstone arches and Main Street freight trains sit minutes from downtown.
This North Carolina Scenic Byway Is The Road Trip Of A Lifetime
Slow down for three unhurried days on North Carolina's stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway, from mountain waterfalls to the Cherokee homelands.
10 Prettiest Towns In Vermont
Discover the 10 prettiest towns in Vermont, where white church steeples, covered bridges, and village greens capture New England at its most postcard-worthy.
7 Undisturbed Towns To Visit In Michigan
Michigan's undisturbed small towns still offer memorable experiences for any visitors, such as Tawas Point State Park in East Tawas.
8 New Hampshire Towns That Rival Europe's Best
Discover 7 charming New Hampshire towns that blend European flair with New England spirit—perfect for scenic escapes and timeless experiences.
The US Towns That Burned Down And Were Never Rebuilt
Chicago rebuilt. Peshtigo rebuilt. Greenville, Malden and Centralia did not. The US towns that burned down and stayed gone, and what decides which way it goes.
The National Parks Where You Can See Whales From Shore
The National Parks Where You Can See Whales From Shore let you spot gray and humpback whales from the coast, no boat tour required.
7 Most Walkable Town Centers In Croatia
7 Most Walkable Town Centers In Croatia, from Trogir, Rovinj, and Korcula on the Adriatic to inland Varazdin, Samobor, Sibenik, and Pozega.
The Largest Government Buildings In The United States
Bureaucracy is a touchy subject for those with mixed feelings about big government. But when bureaucracy is in action, it needs big buildings like these.
The Underground Networks That Connect Trees
The Underground Networks That Connect Trees are built by fungi, not friendship. Carbon does move between trees, but scientists disagree about what it means.